When cries of racism go too far

So I have been watching a story over at Legal Insurrection regarding a "social justice" lawsuit brought by Gibson Bakery against Oberlin college.

Background:

The story starts off in Oberlin, Ohio the home of a five generation iconic town business called Gibson Bakery, and a liberal arts school and music conservatory called Oberlin college. Gibson Bakery was a town staple that had been in business for 135 years. On top of a robust retail business, they did contracting, including a contract with one of the food service providers for the college itself. Oberlin College is one of the oldest (and most expensive) liberal arts colleges in the United States. A single year at this college might run you six figures.

The events that led to the lawsuit took place the very day after Donald Trump was elected President. Three students from Oberlin college were allegedly shoplifting in the store, when they were confronted out front by one of the owners. The three students proceeded in beating up the owner, an assault that happened to be witnessed by a police officer who had been called to the scene.

The students at first rejected both the claims that they were shoplifting, as well as the claims that they were assaulted.  Instead they demanded that they were racially profiled for being black, and claimed that the three on one assault was self defense. Based on evidence collected, eye witnesses, and police officer statements, all three eventually pled guilty to both the shoplifting and the assault.

But apparently Oberlin college faculty and administration asked Gibson Bakery to drop the charges anyways. When Gibson did not comply, the school organized boycotts, protests, created and handed out fliers accusing Gibson Bakery of a "history of racism and racist acts", and forced the food service provider to cut ties with Gibson Baker. The Student Council passed a resolution declaring Gibson Bakery to be a racist business with a long standing racist past.

The problem was that there was no indication that anyone associated with Gibson Bakery was ever a racist, and certainly no indication that they were racists in 2016. The facts of the situation the day after the 2016 election show that it was the students (not the Gibson bakery owner) who was responsible for the situation.

Lawsuit:

Gibson Bakery decided to sue the school on several counts, which eventually were ruled on and reduced down to the following:

• Count 1: Libel
• Count 3: Tortious Interference with Business Relationships
• Count 4: Tortious Interference with Contracts
• Count 6: Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

Furthermore Gibson Bakery was specifically asking for damages that would account for as much as thirty years of lost business. The damages would include the lost contracts, reduced business at the retail shop, and a reduction of rental revenue from the building that they owned. They estimated the thirty year loss to be in the general area of $12 million.  

The school countered by offering that the boycotts, protests, fliers, etc... were all protected by the first amendment, and that ultimately it was the students, not the school or faculty who were leading the charge. Their reasoning for why the school and faculty was involved at all, was only to help facilitate that things did not get out of control. They offered to the jury that if not for the help of the faculty and supervision from school employees that things could have really gotten out of control. They hired a financial expert for $65,000 to tell the jury that Gibson Bakery and their 135 years of being in business was worth only $35,000. 

Verdict:

Legal Insurrection is reporting that as of an hour ago the Jury had reached a verdict in favor of Gibson Bakery. The reward was for $11 million dollars. From the Legal Insurrection:

According to our reporter in the Courtroom, the jury awarded $11 million. Here are the details: Allyn W. Gibson awarded $5.8 million, David Gibson $3 million, Gibson Bros. $2,274,500. Next Tuesday there will be a separate punitive damages which could be a double award (meaning tripling the $11 million to $33 million).

So the Jury is definity sending a message here. They not only gave Gibson almost everything that they asked for in compensatory damages, but they could push damages to the point where it could have a serious impact on the school.  At the end of the day, Oberlin tried to do substantial financial damage to Gibson Bakery because they wouldn't drop charges against three of their students. Looks like this not only didn't work, but actually backfired.